How to Draw and Paint Fantasy Architecture: From Ancient Citadels and Gothic Castles to Subterranean Palaces and Floating Fortresses Paperback – November 1, 2010

I've wanted to buy this book for a long time and I'm glad I finally did! Rob Alexander presents us with background information about various historical architectural periods, how and why certain types of architecture were built, and gives us basic artistic construction information. After showing examples from artisans of the period (from kings to paupers), he puts these skills to work and creates wonderful fantasy architecture and amazing landscapes where anything in our imagination can be possible. His skills and talents are amazing and his architecture is fascinating. He provides basic explanations, general instructions for the architecture, and insightful guidance concerning the use of light, dark, color, shape and form to direct the viewers eyes throughtout the landscape created. He provides keypoints and strategies for light, shadow, values, shade, perspective, distance, depth, composition, concept, color, mood, and drama. He provides information about the grain and texture of wood, how it's carved, painted, and joined--so we can recreate authentic looking artwork. He provides similar information concerning working with stone--in walls, buildings, and nature. He provides details about creating marble--in new, weathered, and crumbling buildings. He also details how to create mosaics and painted tiles that look new or aged. Finally, he details how to create the look of fire damage to exterior and interior buildings--what's the value of a fantasy world where there aren't opponents, demons, or dragons to bring destruction and decay to whatever humans create? Alexander's brilliant illustrations presented throughout this book provided me with lots of examples to practice on, and they have initiated even more ideas for scences I want to create. I've had fun exploring the various architectural styles and artistic tecniques. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in fantasy architecture.

This book is great. Rob Alexander describes everything from Middle Eastern architecture to futuristic cities, including and not limited to Asian, Roman, and Gothic style architecture. Not only does he provide information on how and why peoples had different ways of building, but he even delves into the particular details of each culture's style complete with picture references, clear descriptions and a beautiful painting of his own creation at the end of every chapter.Further into the book there are explanations in picture-creating techniques that bring value to a painting. He provides advice on how to successfully incorporate a color palette, an emotional palette, different types of perspectives, and good composition. In short, he emphasizes an understanding on all the principles of art to use in your artwork.There are extra chapters on architectural details and textures (ie. weathered wood, brickwork, marble, etc.) and Mr. Alexander actually includes a step-by-step method of his own painting style to teach the reader how to create a realistic version of these textures. There are also sections in the back providing ways to paint light and layer values for a final painting.However, this book assumes that the artist reading this book already possesses an innate ability to draw and/or paint. The artworks and sketches depicted within the book are quite advanced and one may require -at least- an ability to sketch coherently. Detailed architectural paintings such as those in the book are quite hard to achieve accurately, and this is a book that requires the reader to engage in much practice in order to reap its beautiful effects.There is probably more about the book that I'm leaving out, but for people who simply want a great book filled with lots of information and gorgeous architectural pieces, this product is an awesome reference.

This book dose not truly teach one how to draw. It gives a few basic tips however. It is far more valuable then parlor tricks you could learn from other basic drawing books used to create most other things with. Any professional artist who has mastered foundational techniques understands that there is a research and development stage that goes into the invention of original science fiction art. So in the category of historical and modern architecture as it relates to conceptual art this book did that research for you. And very beautifully as the art and the facts presented are spot on. I am impressed by this book if you need a clear and concise visual guid of architecture this book is the best i have found. I love it !!!!!!